67th Washington Conference Book

67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference
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67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference
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67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference

SOUTHBRIDGE BUSINESS PARK

ISSUE
While experiencing recent hardships, the Sioux City metro economy has begun a strong economic recovery,
with unemployment rates returning to pre-pandemic levels. The City has built on the positive economic
growth of recent years, however the ability to attract new industrial development, capital investment,
and job creation is dependent on the creation of “project-ready” sites with critical new investments in
infrastructure.
Federal investment in infrastructure capacity, in partnership with state and local government, makes sense
as an excellent way to efficiently create jobs, increase the competitiveness of the United States, and
connect people and communities to opportunities in the global economy.
SUPPORT REQUESTED
• Support for the construction of critical industrial-scale infrastructure to help secure new economic

development and growth of the Southbridge Business Park, including expansion of water utilities,
broadband, and the transportation network.
• Support for the approval of and funding for a new Interstate 29 (I-29) Southbridge interchange.
BACKGROUND
Southbridge Business Park
The Southbridge Business Park was developed to expand opportunities for large industrial development
sites. The area is strategically located immediately south of the Sioux Gateway Airport/Brigadier General
Bud Day Field, adjacent to I-29, with excellent rail service and several thousand acres of developable land.
Response to Growth
The construction of the $330 million Seaboard Triumph Foods project on 250 acres of land, and multiple
related new business expansions (many in food processing, warehousing and distribution, and related
manufacturing) in recent years has utilized most of the readily available industrial properties and buildings
in Sioux City’s largest existing industrial area.
Proven Track Record
Sioux City has a proven track record of attracting and retaining industrial growth through the development
of new business parks and job creation. Much of this growth has occurred in the food production sector,
increasing exports, and strengthening the regional agricultural economy.
Financial Challenges
Like many older mid-size communities, Sioux City is financially stressed by the need to replace existing
aging infrastructure and the rising costs of construction.
Achieved to Date
• Certified shovel-ready: Initial acquisition of more than 300 acres of development property, with 52.5
additional acres recently added and designated as an Iowa “Certified Site”.
• Abundant water: Construction of a $35 million water treatment plant and well system, interconnected
to the City’s existing water system and providing an additional 10 million gallons per day (mgd)
(expandable to 30 mgd) of clean water capacity.
• Access: In partnership with the 185th Air Refueling Wing, the existing access road was relocated out
of the airport area, providing a new north/south access road into the new business park. The project
improved access and security to one of Iowa’s two Air National Guard bases.
• Connectivity: Reconstruction of road system to industrial standards to meet the demands of growing
industry. Associated utilities were also upgraded.
• Rail Service: Following several years of coordination with Union Pacific (UP) a $7.5 million “drop &
pull yard” was completed in January 2016, providing the ability to market Southbridge with rail-served
business development sites. This key resource was developed with the support from our Congressional
delegation, with $3.2 million in grant funds from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and
the Federal Rail Administration (FRA).

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67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference
New Jobs and Capital Investment
• Sabre Industries: A leading manufacturer of communication and electric transmission towers, was

the first to build in Southbridge, opening its new 150-acre Southbridge industrial campus in 2012, and
expanding again in 2014. Sabre is currently expanding again with construction of a new galvanizing
plant, adding 70 employees to their highly skilled workforce of over 532.
• Cold-Link: Most recently cold storage warehousing firm Cold-Link Logistics committed to a capital
investment of nearly $60 million and the creation of 60 new jobs for the first phase of the project. Later
phases are expected to grow the facility to 500,000 sq. ft. The City is working with the state to extend
a rail spur and build a new street to serve the new facility.
Plans for Future Growth
The City and its development partners have focused on local business expansion and the attraction of new
industry, to build on ag and food-based strengths, and to seek economic diversification.
• Infrastructure: Additional growth will require the significant expansion of streets and utilities and the
construction of a new storm drainage system to the Missouri River.
• I-29 Interchange: The cities of Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury County, The Siouxland
Initiative, and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) have partnered to complete the initial
steps with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to construct a new interchange to improve
access to the Southbridge area.
Federal Priorities
• The City of Sioux City has committed some American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to qualified
infrastructure projects in the Southbridge area, including a storm drainage plan.
• A large part of Southbridge is in an Opportunity Zone and should be prioritized under several federal
agencies, including the DOT, EDA, and others. Development of the Southbridge Business Park fits in
line with federal EDA priorities including the business expansion of clean energy, green technology,
and environmentally-sustainable development. It also fits well with federal U.S. Department of
Transportation priorities of job creation and near-term economic activity, especially in economically-
distressed areas; transportation benefits and readiness; economic competitiveness, safety, and
environmental sustainability.
AUTHOR(S)
Marty Dougherty, Economic and Community Development Director, City of Sioux City, Iowa,
[email protected], 712.279.6345
Chris Myres, Economic Development Specialist, City of Sioux City, Iowa, [email protected],
712.224.5502

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67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference
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TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), born in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, July 1, 1970; B.A., Iowa State
University, 1992; M.P.A., Columbus College (now Columbus State University), Columbus, GA, 1995; United
States Army Reserves, 1993-2001; Iowa Army National Guard, 2001-present, attaining the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel; Auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa, 2005-2011; Member of the Iowa State Senate
2011-2014; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2014; reelected in 2020 for the term
ending January 3, 2027; vice-chair, Republican Conference (2019)

Contact Information
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.3254
Website: ernst.senate.gov
Twitter: @SenJoniErnst
Chief of Staff: Lisa Smittcamp Goeas – [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Armed Services; Environment & Public Works;
Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Subcommittees: Food & Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, & Research; Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, & Food Safety &
Security; Rural Development & Energy (Ranking Member); Cybersecurity; Emerging Threats & Capabilities; Readiness & Management
Support; Clean Air & Nuclear Safety; Fisheries, Water, & Wildlife; Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, & Regulatory
Oversight

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), born in New Hartford, Butler County, Iowa, September 17, 1933;
attended the public schools; graduated, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls 1955; received a
graduate degree from the same university in 1956; pursued graduate work, University of Iowa, Iowa
City 1957-1958; engaged in agriculture; part-time University Instructor; Member, Iowa House of
Representatives 1959-1974; elected in 1974 as a Republican to the Ninety-fourth Congress; reelected
to the Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth Congresses (January 3, 1975-January 3, 1981); was not a candidate
in 1980 for reelection to the House of Representatives, but was elected to the Senate in 1980;
reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010 and again in 2016 for the term ending January 3, 2023.

Contact Information
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.3744
Website: grassley.senate.gov
Twitter: @ChuckGrassley
Chief of Staff: Aaron Cummings, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Budget; Finance; Judiciary; Joint Committee on Taxation

Subcommittees: Commodities, Risk Management, & Trade; Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, & Food Safety & Security; Rural
Development & Energy; Health Care; International Trade, Customs, & Global Competitiveness; Taxation & IRS Oversight; Competition Policy,
Antitrust, and Consumer Rights; The Constitution; Criminal Justice & Counterterrorism; Immigration, Citizenship, & Border Safety; Federal
Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, & Federal Rights; Intellectual Property; Human Rights & the Law; Privacy, Technology, & the Law

Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4th District), born in Hull, Sioux County, Iowa, January 14, 1969;
graduated from Western Christian High School, Hull, Iowa; 1987; B.A., Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa,
1991; M.P.A., Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; attending Northcentral University, La Jolla, Calif., Business
Manager; Bank Insurance Manager; Faculty, Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa; City Administrator, Hull,
Iowa 1999-2006; Treasurer, Sioux County, Iowa, 2006-2008; Member of the Iowa State Senate, 2009-2020;
elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (January 3, 2021-present)

Contact Information
1440 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4426
Website: feenstra.house.gov
Twitter: @RepFeenstra
Chief of Staff: Matt Leopold, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture; Budget; Science, Space, and Technology

Subcommittees: Commodity Exchanges, Energy & Credit; Livestock & Foreign Agriculture; Energy; Environment

TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-3rd District), born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan,
April 20, 1965; graduated from Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa; B.A., University of
Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 1987; M.B.A., Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 2002; Staff, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources; Staff, Iowa Department of Management, Iowa Department of
Administrative Services; Journalist, elected as Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth and to the
succeeding Congress (January 3, 2019-present).

Contact Information
1034 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.5476
Website: axne.house.gov
Twitter: @RepCindyAxne
Chief of Staff: Joseph Diver, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Financial Services

Subcommittees: Commodity Exchanges, Energy, & Credit; Livestock & Foreign Agriculture; Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship
and Capital Markets; Housing, Community Development & Insurance

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-2nd District), born in Herlong, Lassen County,
California, September 6, 1955; attended San Antonio Junior College, San Antonio, Texas; B.S.N., Texas
Christian University, Forth Worth, Texas, 1976; M.S., University of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California, 1980; M.D. University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1986; United
States Army; United States Army Reserve; Assistant Professor, University of Michigan; 1991-1994;
Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, 1994-1997; Ophthalmologist; Director, Iowa Department of
Public Health, 2010-2013; member of the Iowa Senate, 2019-2020; elected as a Republican to the One
Hundred Seventeenth Congress (January 3, 2021 – Present)

Contact Information
1716 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.6576
Website: millermeeks.house.gov
Twitter: @millermeeks
Chief of Staff: Tracie Gibler, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Education & Labor; Homeland Security; Veterans’ Affairs

Subcommittees: Higher Education & Workforce Investment; Workforce Protections; Emergency Preparedness, Response &
Recovery; Transportation & Maritime Security; Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis; Disability Assistance & Memorial
Affairs; Health

Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA-1st District), born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, June
27, 1983; graduated Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, 2001; B.A., University of
Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 2004; Journalist; Member of the Iowa State House of
Representatives, 2017-2020; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress
(January 3, 2021 – Present)

Contact Information
1429 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.2911
Website: hinson.house.gov
Twitter: @hinsonashley
Chief of Staff: Jimmy Peacock, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Appropriations; Budget

Subcommittees: Homeland Security; Transportation, Housing & Urban Development, & Related Agencies

TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), born in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 1, 1951; graduated University of
Nebraska, B.S., 1988; Rancher; Valentine Rural High School Board of Education 1990-2004;
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education 2000-2004; Nebraska
Unicameral Legislature 2005-2012; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2012
for the term ending January 3, 2019; reelected in 2018 for the term ending January 3, 2025.

Contact Information
454 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.6551
Website: fischer.senate.gov
Twitter: @SenatorFischer
Chief of Staff: Emily Leviner, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Armed Services; Commerce, Science & Transportation; Rules &
Administration; Select Committee on Ethics

Subcommittees: Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, & Food Safety & Security; Food & Nutrition, Specialty Crops,
Organics, & Research; Rural Development & Energy; Emerging Threats & Capabilities; Readiness & Management Support;
Strategic Forces; Communications, Media & Broadband; Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, & Ports; Oceans, Fisheries,
Climate Change, & Manufacturing; Space & Science

Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), born in Plainview, Pierce County, Nebraska, February 22, 1972; B.A.,
Harvard University, 1994; M.A., St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD, 1998; Ph.D., Yale University, 2004;
Management Consultant; University Professor; Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry;
Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Assistant Secretary for
Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; President of Midland
University, Fremont, Nebraska; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2014; reelected
in 2020 for the term ending January 3, 2027.

Contact Information
107 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.4224
Website: sasse.senate.gov
Twitter: @SenSasse
Chief of Staff: Raymond Sass, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Budget; Finance; Judiciary; Select Committee on Intelligence

Subcommittees: International Trade, Customs, & Global Competitiveness; Social Security, Pensions, & Family Policy; Taxation &
IRS Oversight; The Constitution; Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, & Federal Rights; Human Rights & the Law; Privacy,
Technology, & the Law

Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-3rd District), born in Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff County,
Nebraska, December 19, 1970; graduated from Gering High School, Gering, Nebraska, 1989;
attended Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, 1989-1990; B.S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln,
Nebraska, 1993; Business Owner; Teacher; Member of the Gering, Nebraska, City Council, 1994-
1998; Member of the Nebraska State Legislature, 1999-2007; elected as a Republican to the One
Hundred Tenth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2007-present).

Contact Information
502 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.6435
Website: adriansmith.house.gov
Twitter: @RepAdrianSmith
Chief of Staff: Monica Didiuk, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Ways & Means

Subcommittees: Health; Select Revenue Measures (Ranking Member)

TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-2nd District), born in Chicago Heights, Cook County, Illinois
August 16, 1963; graduated from Grace Baptist High School, Kankakee, Illinois; B.A., Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1984; M.B.A., University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, 1996;
M.A., National War College, Washington, D.C., 2004; United States Air Force, 1985-2014; Staff,
United States Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, 2014-2015; Assistant Professor,
University of Bellevue, Bellevue, Nebraska, 2014-2017; elected as a Republican to the One
Hundred Fifteenth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2017-present).

Contact Information
1024 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4155
Website: bacon.house.gov
Twitter: @RepDonBacon
Chief of Staff: Mark Dreiling, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture; Armed Services

Subcommittees: Biotechnology, Horticulture, & Research; Livestock & Foreign Agriculture; Nutrition, Oversight & Department
Operations; Intelligence & Special Operations; Tactical Air & Land Forces

TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), born in Huron, Beadle County, South Dakota, October 24, 1954; B.S.,
South Dakota State University, 1977; Insurance and Real Estate Executive; Member of the South
Dakota State Senate 1991-2000, serving as Majority Leader 1995-2000; Governor of South Dakota
2003-2011; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 2014; reelected in 2020 for the term
ending January 3, 2027.

Contact Information
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.5842
Website: rounds.senate.gov
Twitter: @SenatorRounds
Chief of Staff: Kyle Chase, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Armed Services; Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs; Foreign Relations;
Indian Affairs; Veterans’ Affairs

Subcommittees: Cybersecurity; Readiness & Management Support; Strategic Forces; Financial Institutions & Consumer
Protection; Housing, Transportation, & Community Development; Securities, Insurance & Investment; Africa & Global Health Policy;
East Asia, the Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy; Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, &
International Economic, Energy, & Environmental Policy

Senator John Thune (R-SD), born in Pierre, Hughes County, South Dakota., January 7, 1961;
graduated from Jones County High School, South Dakota, 1979; B.S., Biola University, La Mirada,
Calif., 1983; M.B.A., University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1984; Executive
Director, South Dakota State Municipal League; Board of Directors, National League of Cities;
Staff, United States Senator James Abdnor of South Dakota 1985-1986; South Dakota State
Republican Party Executive Director 1989-1991; Director, South Dakota State Railroad Division
1991-1993; Director, South Dakota State Municipal League 1993-1996; elected as a Republican
to the One Hundred Fifth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997-January 3,
2003); was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Eighth Congress in 2002, but was
an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate; elected as a Republican to the U.S.
Senate in 2004; reelected in 2010, and again in 2016 for the term ending January 3, 2023; Vice-
Chair, Republican Conference (2009); Chair, Republican Policy Committee (2009-2012); Chair,
Republican Conference (2012-2018); Republican Party Whip (2019); Chair, Committee on
Commerce, Science & Transportation (One Hundred Fourteenth and One Hundred Fifteenth
Congresses)

Contact Information
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.2321
Website: thune.senate.gov
Twitter: @johnthune
Chief of Staff: Ryan Nelson, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Commerce, Science & Transportation; Finance

Subcommittees: Commodities, Risk Management, & Trade; Conservation, Climate, Forestry, & Natural Resources; Livestock, Dairy,
Poultry, Local Food Systems, & Food Safety & Security; Aviation Safety, Operations, & Innovation; Communications, Media, &
Broadband; Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, & Ports; Consumer Protection, Product Safety, & Data Security; Health Care;
International Trade, Customs, & Global Competitiveness; Taxation & IRS Oversight (Ranking Member)

TRI-STATE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD-At Large), born in Pierre, Hughes County, South Dakota,
September 30, 1976; graduated from T.F. Riggs High School, Pierre, South Dakota, 1995; B.A.
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1999; M.P.A. University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas, 2002; Staff, Governor Mike Rounds of South Dakota; Member of the South Dakota Public
Utilities Commission, 2004-2011; Staff, Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, 2011-2014;
Business Executive; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress and to the
succeeding Congress (January 3, 2019-present)

Contact Information
1714 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.2801
Website: dustyjohnson.house.gov
Twitter: @RepDustyJohnson
Chief of Staff: Andrew Christianson, [email protected]

Committee Assignments: Agriculture; Transportation & Infrastructure

Subcommittees: Conservation & Forestry; Livestock & Foreign Agriculture; Highways & Transit; Railroads, Pipelines, & Hazardous
Materials

67th Annual Siouxland/Washington Conference

SIOUXLAND CONFERENCE DELEGATION

Al Aymar, Western Iowa Tech Community College
Leah Barrett, Northeast Community College
Lesley Bartholomew, Wells Enterprises
Neil Bartholomew, Eagle Ridge

Chris Bogenrief, Dakota Valley Business Council / NAI United
Gary Bogenrief, City of North Sioux City
Michelle Bostinelos, SIMPCO
Brian Crichton, CMBA Architects
Kolby DeWitt, Senator Ernst's Office

Wes Fopma, Representative Feenstra's Office
Cyndi Hanson, Northeast Community College

Lance Hedquist, City of South Sioux City
Grant Houselog, Iowa Poison Control Center

Linda Kalin, Iowa Poison Control Center
Graham McGaffin, The Nature Conservancy
Chris McGowan, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Kevin McManamy, United Real Estate Solutions

Curt Miller, SIMPCO
Casey Mills, Mills-Shellhammer-Puetz & Associates
Col Sonya Morrison, 185th Air Refueling Wing/Iowa Air National Guard
Col Mark Muckey, 185th Air Refueling Wing/Iowa Air National Guard
Terry Murrell, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Brad Newton, The Siouxland Initiative
Lisa Newton, Wells Enterprises

Jeremy Ogle, Western Iowa Tech Community College
Scott Pohlson, University of South Dakota
Suzann Reynolds, Tyson Fresh Meats

Brendyn Richards, Siouxland Community Health Center
Teresa Rosenboom, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce

Barbara Sloniker, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Kristie VerMulm McManamy, United Real Estate Solutions

Nanci Walsh, City of South Sioux City
Steve Warnstadt, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Alex Watters, City of Sioux City

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

GianCarlo Canaparo, Senior Legal Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal &

Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation

GianCarlo Canaparo is a senior legal fellow in The Heritage
Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies.
Canaparo researches, writes, speaks, and testifies on regulatory
policy, criminal justice policy, the federal courts, and constitutional
law.

In addition to Heritage publications, Canaparo’s scholarship has
appeared in numerous law reviews including the Harvard Journal of
Law and Public Policy, the Notre Dame Law Review, the Administrative
Law Review, and the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy.

His analysis has appeared in Fox News, The National Review, The
Washington Times, Law 360, FedSoc Blog, and other outlets.

In addition to his research, writing, speeches, and testimony, Canaparo
co-hosts The Heritage Foundation’s SCOTUS 101 podcast, which
follows and explains each week’s happenings at the Supreme Court
and features interviews with prominent judges, advocates, and
scholars.

Canaparo joined Heritage in 2019 after serving for two years as a law clerk to a federal district court
judge. Before his clerkship, he spent three years as an associate at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom.

Canaparo holds a law degree from Georgetown University, where he was a published editor of the
Georgetown Law Journal. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California
at Davis.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Gentry Collins, CEO, American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce

Gentry Collins is Chief Executive Officer
of the American Free Enterprise Chamber
of Commerce, a national advocacy and
trade association working to expand equal
economic opportunity for all Americans,
and advocating public policies that provide
small and medium sized businesses equal access to the marketplace.

Collins is also a partner at CAP Public Affairs, where he has worked
successfully with large-scale advocacy and brand management efforts
in the healthcare, automotive, infrastructure, mental health, veterans
affairs, and energy sectors.

Collins served as a Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future, where
he lectured on the Future of the Republican Party. He is a co-founder of NewRepublican.org, built to
reshape the way Republican campaigns and party committees understand brand management.

During the 2010 election cycle, Collins served as the National Political Director at the Republican National
Committee, tasked with building get-out-the-vote infrastructure nationwide. Under his direction the
Republican Party made more volunteer voter contacts than any other cycle in history. The unprecedented
ground game in 2010 played a major role in returning a Republican majority to Congress.

Before the RNC, Collins served as the Midwestern Regional Campaign Manager for McCain-Palin 2008
where he helped carry Missouri, the only target state Senator McCain won.

Prior to his post with Senator McCain, Collins served as former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s
Iowa State Director and advisor, directing the Iowa Straw Poll and Caucus efforts, where his team helped
take Romney from single digits in February 2007 to national frontrunner for the Republican nomination
just one year later.

During the 2006 cycle, Collins served as National Political Director for the Republican Governors
Association, engaging in gubernatorial races and independent expenditure efforts in 36 states.

He has also served as Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. While
there he helped carry Iowa in 2004 for Bush-Cheney, one of just two states that switched from Gore in
2000 to Bush in 2004. It was also the first time a Republican won Iowa since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-
elect.

Collins was named Politico’s ‘Top Presidential Staffer Get’ for 2012, and The New York Post has called
him “ … one of the most highly regarded operatives in the party.”

Collins has served on the boards of several organizations, including SoldierStrong, First Freedom
Network, Hayek Foundation for American Renewal, and Iowa State University’s Political Science Alumni
Advisory Board.

Collins is married with seven children and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Iowa
State University in Ames, Iowa. He is also an instrument-rated private pilot.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Senator Tom Cotton, (R-Arkansas)

Tom Cotton is a United States Senator from Arkansas. Tom’s committees
include the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as the Ranking Member for
the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, the Intelligence
Committee, and the Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the
Ranking Member of the Air Land Power Subcommittee.

Tom grew up on his family’s cattle farm in Yell
County. He graduated from Dardanelle High
School, Harvard, and Harvard Law School.
After a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals and private law
practice. Tom left the law because of the September 11th attacks. Tom
served nearly five years on active duty in the United States Army as an
Infantry Officer.

Tom served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a
Provincial Reconstrution Team. Between his two combat tours, Tom
served with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Tom’s
military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry
Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Between the Army and the Senate, Tom worked for McKinsey & Co. and served one term in the House of
Representatives. Tom and his wife Anna have two sons, Gabriel and Daniel.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Katie Morley, Legislative Assistant, Representative Adrian Smith’s Office

Katie Morley currently serves as
a Legislative Assistant to
Nebraska Congressman Adrian
Smith, a senior member of the
United States House Ways and
Means Committee. Katie’s portfolio includes trade, agriculture, energy,
and transportation/infrastructure issues. She formerly served as a
Legislative Assistant to Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack, a
senior Appropriator. Katie has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in
Economics and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.

Michael O’Brien, Vice President, Advocacy and Public Affairs,

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

Michael O’Brien heads the Advocacy
Department at the National Association of
Manufacturers, the largest industrial trade
association in the United States, where he
is responsible for NAM’s grassroots and
field advocacy programs, issue advocacy
campaigns, third party engagement strategies and other member
services. He previously served as Director of Public Affairs for the
Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Kim Peyser, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration,

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Kim Peyser was named Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Administration in May 2021. Most
recently, Peyser served as the Deputy Chief of
Staff at the Department of Commerce. Prior to
taking on that position, she was a member of
President Biden’s transition team leading on appointments for both the
Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration.
Peyser brings deep experience building and leading teams both in and
outside of government. Peyser spent six years of service in two
agencies during the Obama-Biden Administration. She received a
master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s
degree from Colgate University.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Nic Pottebaum, Health Policy Advisor, Senator Charles Grassley’s Office

Nic Pottebaum currently serves as the Health Policy Advisor to Iowa Senator
Chuck Grassley, a senior member of the United States Senate Finance

Committee. He formerly served as Special
Assistant to the President and Deputy Director
of the White House Office of Intergovernmental
Affairs working with our nation’s governors, lt.
governors, and more than 1,500 statewide
elected and appointed officials across 55 states
and territories. Pottebaum has previously
served as health care, tax, and public pension policy advisor to
Governor Terry Branstad and Governor Kim Reynolds. Pottebaum is
a graduate of the University of Iowa where he served as student
body president.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Policy Counsel, American Immigration Council

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick is Senior
Policy Counsel at the American
Immigration Council, where he
works primarily on immigration court
issues and the intersection of
immigration law and policy. He
previously worked as a Staff Attorney at the Council, working on impact
litigation, Freedom of Information Act litigations, and practice advisories.
Prior to joining the Council, he was an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow
placed as a Staff Attorney at the Immigration Law Unit of The Legal Aid
Society in New York City, representing immigrants placed in removal
proceedings because of a prior criminal conviction. Aaron holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University
Law Center and a B.A. in Politics and East Asian Studies from Brandeis University.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Charles Small, Deputy Assistant Secretary – Intergovernmental Affairs,

U.S. Department of Transportation

Charles Small is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental
Affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this role, he serves as
the primary liaison for state, county and local elected officials leading
outreach and engagement strategy with non-federal stakeholders. Prior to

joining the Biden-Harris Administration,
Charles served for four years as the
Director of Federal Affairs and National
Engagement for Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles
where he secured the City’s federal funding and permitting
approvals supporting the City’s and region’s infrastructure agencies
including LA Metro, Los Angeles World Airports (LAX), the Port of
Los Angeles, the LA Department of Water & Power, and the LA
Department of Transportation. Before his service to the City of Los
Angeles, Charles spent five years as the Associate Director of
Federal Affairs for the State of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo where he led advocacy efforts on
housing, energy, financial services, and secured approval from the Federal Communications Commission
to help the State’s broadband buildout.

Charles served in the Obama Administration at the Office of the United States Trade Representative and
began his career with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California). He is a native of Southern California, a
graduate of Swarthmore College, and a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan. He and his wife are the proud
parents of a daughter, Jasper, and reside in Silver Spring, Maryland.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Phil Smith, National Field Director, The Concord Coalition

Phil Smith is the National Field
Director for The Concord Coalition.
Founded in 1992, the coalition's
nonpartisan mission is to encourage
fiscal responsibility and help educate
the public about the federal budget and the need to protect our children
and future generations from excessive government debt. It was founded
by former U.S. Senators Paul Tongas (D-MA) and Warren Rudman (R-
NH).

With more than two decades of experience at The Concord Coalition, Phil
has helped conduct countless seminars, congressional and presidential town hall meetings, and public
policy initiatives. He has traveled to all 50 states and often delivers speeches to a range of political and
civic organizations, colleges, universities, and financial planning groups. He works extensively with the
media including appearances on most major television and radio networks such as CNN, FOX, PBS,
NPR, CNBC, C-span, the BBC and CTV (Canadian Television).

In addition to his career at the Concord Coalition, Phil served as the Chief Operating Officer for two state
government agencies in Georgia: The Department of Community Affairs and the Technical College
System of Georgia. He also served on the Washington staff of the late U.S. Representative Doug
Barnard, and the state capitol staff of several state representatives and senators in Atlanta.

Phil received gubernatorial appointments to the boards of directors of the Georgia Humanities Council
and the Georgia Children and Youth Coordinating Council. He is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Atlanta
where he currently serves as an officer on the board of trustees. He is a 2006 graduate of Leadership
Georgia where he also served on their board of trustees.

In 2005, Phil was chosen as one of the top "40 Under 40" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. He is the
Past President of the downtown Atlanta Kiwanis Club, one of the oldest and largest civic clubs in the
country.

Phil was raised primarily in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia where he earned a
bachelor's degree in Political Science. He also studied Mexican Politics and Spanish at the University of
the Americas near Puebla, Mexico and was awarded a visiting fellowship to Ming Chaun University in
Taipei, Taiwan.

GUEST SPEAKER BIOS

Lance West, Chief of Staff, Senator Joe Manchin’s Office (D-West Virginia)

Lance West serves as the Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III of West
Virginia. As Senator Manchin’s Chief of Staff, Lance advises the Senator and staff
in the longest 50-50 Senate in U.S. history and has helped shape historic
legislation, including the Great American Outdoors Act, the $908 billion bipartisan
pandemic relief package, the Energy Act of 2020, the American Rescue Plan, and

the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act. Prior to his role as Chief of Staff,
Lance served as acting Staff Director and Deputy Staff Director of
the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee working
on a wide range of issues, from the development of a balanced
national energy plan that utilizes all of our resources to advancing
policies that preserve and promote access to our nation’s public
lands.

Lance also served as Director of Federal Government Relations at
the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), where he
worked closely with stakeholders in the manufacturing, recreation,
and retail industries, in addition to leaders in the conservation
community, to advance policy priorities important to the association
and its member companies. Lance started his career as an advisor to Senator Manchin, serving in
various roles on a broad range of policy matters during the Senator’s time on the Senate Banking,
Commerce, and Appropriations committees.

Lance received his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in his hometown of Huntington, West
Virginia.

Hilton Hilton
Capitol Capitol Hill
Hill

The Monocle The Monocle
Restaurant

U.S. Capitol
Visitor Center

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group meeting
point entrance

Cannon Bldg.

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group meeting
CHC point entrance

Capitol Hill Club